News

Zetlin & De Chiara LLP is pleased to announce that four of our Partners have again been recognized by Best Lawyers®.

Michael Zetlin, Michael De Chiara, Raymond Mellon and Carol Patterson were selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2014* in the fields of Construction Law and Construction Litigation.

“We continue to value this important recognition from our clients and peers and congratulate Michael, Michael, Ray and Carol for consistently achieving a place at the top of this list," said Michael Vardaro, the Managing Partner at Zetlin & De Chiara.

Inclusion in Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which almost 50,000 leading attorneys cast nearly five million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas. It illustrates the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.

Michael S. Zetlin, a Senior Partner of Zetlin & De Chiara, and graduate civil engineer as well as an attorney, has successfully litigated complex multi-million dollar construction claims and actively consults with clients on general business matters, construction contracting and risk management. Mr. Zetlin represents owners, developers, architects, engineers, construction managers, contractors and other parties in the construction industry. He serves as General Counsel to the New York Building Congress and the American Institute of Architects, New York Chapter. He is a Fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers, a co-editor of New York Construction Law and an adjunct professor at Columbia University, teaching the graduate program "Legal Issues in Building Construction."

Michael K. De Chiara, a Senior Partner of Zetlin & De Chiara, is experienced in virtually all aspects of the law as it relates to the design and construction industry. In addition to litigation and contractual matters, he often advises clients on financial affairs and general business matters covering partnership law, corporate law, employment law, and professional practice matters, including ownership transition and licensing issues. Mr. De Chiara serves as general counsel to many of the country's larger engineering and architectural firms, and represents owners, developers, engineers, architects, construction managers, contractors and other parties in the construction industry. Mr. De Chiara has successfully handled some of the largest design and construction cases in recent times and has represented clients in proceedings before the United States Senate.

Raymond T. Mellon, a Senior Partner of Zetlin & De Chiara, is a leading construction litigator and experienced trial lawyer with an extensive background in representing prominent architectural, engineering and contracting firms on business negotiations and in litigation. In addition to actively consulting with clients on general business matters, construction contract drafting and negotiation, and risk management strategies, Mr. Mellon has successfully represented many design professionals in disciplinary and licensing proceedings before the City and State of New York. Mr. Mellon has also successfully represented some of the largest developers in the United States and advises owners, developers, engineers, architects, construction managers, contractors and other parties in the construction industry.

Carol J. Patterson, a Senior Partner of Zetlin & De Chiara, advises clients on dispute resolution, contracts, business organizational issues and risk management strategies. She represents prominent national and international firms in litigation and transactions relating to the design and construction of major office and residential buildings, performing arts centers, museums, hospitals, educational institutions, transportation facilities and infrastructure projects. Ms. Patterson regularly counsels owners, developers, engineers, architects, contractors and other parties in the construction industry. She is consistently recognized by Chambers USA and Super Lawyer Magazine as a leading attorney in construction law. She frequently speaks on various topics relating to the design and construction industries and has lectured at the New York University Real Estate Institute, Columbia University School of Engineering, and Polytechnic University. Ms. Patterson is a Fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers and a past president of the Association of Real Estate Women.